Bleak House is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published in serial form between March 1852 and September 1853. It is a vivid portrayal of life in Victorian England, and follows the lives of a large cast of characters, all connected by their involvement in a long-running legal case known as Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The novel's main protagonist is Esther Summerson, an orphaned girl who is taken in by her guardian, John Jarndyce. Esther is soon caught up in the legal proceedings of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a case that has been ongoing for decades and has bankrupted many of the parties involved. As the case drags on, Esther meets a variety of characters, including the kindly Mr. Woodcourt, the mysterious Lady Dedlock, and the villainous lawyer Mr. Tulkinghorn. The novel is a critique of the English legal system, and its themes include the effects of poverty, the power of the aristocracy, and the importance of justice. It is also a powerful exploration of the human condition, as Esther and the other characters struggle to make sense of their lives in a world of injustice and suffering.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1853 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Social Criticism, Mystery · 60 chapters